Camp fire celebrated at CMC Ludhiana

Photo Courtesy:Troop Reunion

Christmas Celebrations are Continued at CMC Hospital of Ludhiana also.A musical camp fire celebrated at children’s park on Saturday night. Camp fire is a known happy event of Christmas days. Peoples enjoyed the rise of winter together and made it a part of their happy memories. A campfire is a fire lit at a campsite, giving light, warmth and allowing cooking. In established campgrounds they are usually in a fire ring for safety. Campfires are a popular feature of camping, particularly among organized campers such as Scouts or Guides. In some regions it is called a bonfire, especially when it is of a very large size. Co-ordinated by Rev. Stanley Thomas and his team in the Fellowship Department, CMC & Hospital organized the C.M.C Christmas Camp 2010 in the evening at the children’s park CMC. There was an array of cultural items and prayer. The programme attended by a huge gathering of about 3,000 people including C.M.C staff along with their families and friends of the hospital. Representatives from local churches also graced the program. 

Photo courtesy:Thwink Org.

 The entire gathering sang the Christmas Hymn. “Oho Masih Aya Zamin Par Khushi.” Rev.JN.Noel in his Opening Prayer asked for world peace along with happiness for the CMC&H staff and their families. He wished that the year ahead be one of professional contentment with the spirit of service worthy of the Healing Ministry of Christ. The welcome note was delivered by the Director, Dr.A.G Thomas. He reminded all the Significance of Christmas- of love, peace, tolerance, care of the poor and upliftmen of society while welcoming the congregation to commit themselves to be christ like.

Photo Courtesy:Metblogs

 Several Group songs were presented by participants from Maintence Staff, Combined Paramedicals, Clerical Staff, Nursing Deptt and Campus Staff children. The Ancillary Staff presented a Quawwali. With a warm campfire to keep the audience warm on a chilly December night, Gospel Singer, Mr.Gopal Masih was the guest speaker. The camp-fire programme concluded with a prayer. Associate Director, Dr.Kim Mammen, Dr.SM Bhatti, Principal Medical College, Mrs.Triza Jewan Principal College of Nursing, Principal Dental College Dr.Abhi.M Thomas, Medical Superintendent Dr.Kanwal Masih, Deputy Medical Superintendent Dr.Nitin and Dr Valsa were also present on the occasion. Rector Kathuria

Heart Disease Incidence High in Rural Punjab: Dr.Bedi

Dr Bedi with Mr OS Pahwa , MLA Mr Shivalik and Sarpanch Mr Toor at start of camp

Rural Punjab reports a very high incidence of diabetes, high blood cholesterol level and obesity. These, in turn, manifest as cardiac problems. This was stated by Dr Harinder Singh Bedi – Head of Cardio Vascular & Thoracic Surgery at the Christian Medical College & Hospital, Ludhiana. He made this observation at the free cardio vascular counseling, detection and prevention camp organized jointly by the Christian Medical College & Hospital and the Mata Kaushalya Devi Pahwa Charitable Hospital in Village Hambran in Ludhiana.

A very high incidence of heart and vascular disease was noted in this rural area. This was no surprise - Dr Bedi said - as about 35% of his heart patients needing surgery are from the villages. The camp was held to try and look at the reasons for this apparent discrepancy. While it is true that villages have a clean non polluted atmosphere and the pace of life is generally relaxed – but at the same time there has been a gradual change in lifestyle. The hard manual labour is now being done mostly by migrant workers while the cholesterol rich diet remains as before. Consequently the body is unable to metabolise all the calories consumed leading to deposits in the arteries. Also urbanization of rural areas is taking place, and so the urban-rural difference is decreasing and more and more rural people are getting this disease. India in 2010 accounts for nearly 60 per cent of the global heart ailments as per WHO statistics.  It is also seen that Indians had more common involvement at younger age with smaller coronary arteries; diffuse distal disease, multi-vessel disease and higher incidence in women. This could be due to the rising incidence of drug addiction in rural youth.

Also focusing on poor medical care in rural and remote areas, the camp study recognised that people with heart disease in rural Punjab received slower care than people in the cities and were more likely to die before reaching a hospital. Heart attack rural patients head to hospitals in buses or tractors rather than ambulances, and pay for the treatments out of their own pockets because of ignorance regarding health insurance.

Dr Bedi stressed on the benefits of addressing the root cause of heart disease in Punjab. Punjabi diet is very rich compared to that of the population living in southern part of the country. It is for this reason that we are witnessing people at young age getting heart attacks.

One can easily do three things for preventing heart diseases Dr Bedi told the gathering in the village. Eat less fried food, less butter and ghee. Second, exercise daily for around 45 minutes. And third, reduce stress in life. Because of the nature of the work, we have become over stressed. So things like yoga, meditation & entertainment help a person to relax. A special dietary counseling and individualized yoga therapy was an intergral part of the camp.

The team included Dr A Gupta, Dr Prashant, Dr Meenu, Dietitians Dt D Dhillon and Dt Nitya, Yoga Acharya Nirmal Singh, Staff nurses headed by Sister Balwinder Kaur, Mr Emmanuel and Mr William. Dr Abraham G Thomas – Director of CMC & H – said that the outreach programmes were an integral and important part of the basic philosophy of CMC so that medical care could reach one and all in this region. Onkar Singh Pahwa – MD of Avon Cycles and Pahwa Hospital said that they were ready to bring the latest technology to the rural masses so that they can avail of the best medical facilities.  , MLA Darshan Singh Shivalik and Sarpanch Sukhdev Singh Toor also activel participated in the camp.

Dr Bedi may be contacted at 98140-60480 for any clarification....: Rector Kathuria 

Human smuggling What Punjab must do

Human smuggling, illegal trafficking and unethical immigration businesses are on the rise in India and other countries. The Punjab Prevention of Human Smuggling Act is a welcome move. Once it gets the President’s assent, the state government should draft comprehensive rules to enforce the legislation in letter and spirit
Ranjit Malhotra

THE Punjab Prevention of Human Smuggling Act, 2010, is awaiting the President of India’s assent. It is an important piece of legislation as it seeks to regulate the profession of travel agents to check their illegal and fraudulent activities and malpractices of those involved in the organised human smuggling in Punjab.

It has several noteworthy features. ‘Human smuggling’ and ‘travel agent’ are well defined. Travel agent is defined as a person in a profession that involves arranging, managing or conducting affairs related to sending people abroad. It includes consultancy for permanent emigration, obtaining education, work, travel for tourism, cultural entertainment or musical shows, medical treatment, spreading or preaching religion and so on.
The key focus of the legislation is on human smuggling as opposed to human trafficking. The distinction is crucial. Human smuggling facilitates illegal entry of people from one country to another. It has a cross border element of voluntary cooperation without any coercion or undue influence. In contrast to human trafficking, there are no victims in human smuggling. Human trafficking entails slavery and possibly has no international element.
It provides for a much-needed licensing regime for agents and requires compulsory bank guarantees. Clearly, this will nail down middlemen of all sorts and fly-by-night street operators.
The legislation is not without teeth because it gives the power of search, seizure and arrest. Under the existing Central legislation, travel agents can be booked under Section 420 of the Indian Penal Code, in terms of which it is very difficult to prove the offence of cheating as most transactions take place in cash. But the Punjab legislation gives more powers to the police in terms of offences being cognisable and non-bailable.
A separate mechanism has been carved out as the legislation seeks to create specially designated courts for trials under the new Act. It identifies defined variable punishments for offences.
There is a provision for filing complaints by aggrieved persons to judicial magistrates for trial before the special courts. The special court is authorised to decide whether any illegally acquired property is liable to be confiscated.
Dishonest misrepresentation to have wrongful gain for inducing, deception, cheating or allurement for the activities carried out by the travel agents are punishable. There is also a caveat for legitimate business promotion. If any travel agent wants to advertise or hold seminars, he must notify the competent authority with details of advertisement of such seminars.
As the rules so framed by the Punjab government after the Presidential assent should be comprehensive and free from ambiguity, the authorities concerned would do well to consider the following issues.
The locus standi of aggrieved persons should be given a broad sweep without hinging on technicalities. Quite often, the victims of human smuggling are stranded en route in hostile conditions in foreign countries. Their next of kin in such a situation should be empowered to file criminal complaints or claims for compensation against erring parties. Foreign missions in the consular district of New Delhi should also be brought within the ambit of aggrieved persons so that they can lodge criminal complaints against habitual offenders who deal in bulk fraudulent applications.
In a world without borders, the 2010 Act like the provisions of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, should also have extra-territorial application. It is common knowledge that cross border cartels operate from different jurisdictions right from the sending country to the receiving country. No complaint should fail on the ground that monetary consideration was paid outside India and that part of the cause of action took outside the territories of India.
There is need for a strict code for advertising by travel agents and immigration consultancies. There should be an express prohibition on all immigration-related advertisements in the media — print and electronic — for not advertising or canvassing the number of visas allegedly procured by their consultancies. Quite often, such figures of successful applicants are exaggerated and inflated and there is no way by innocent and gullible members of the public to check such projected figures.
As for offences, the rules should be applicable to any immigration consultancy, agent, franchisee operating even outside Punjab, if the principal office of the branch of such a concern is situated within Punjab. There should be a clear embargo on canvassing projected time schedules for permanent residency/ settlement in any foreign country.
The provision for a bank guarantee to be furnished by all such licensed immigration operators and travel agencies should be on ad valorem basis and the amount of the bank guarantee should be directly proportional to the number of applications handled by any such consultancy or agency.
In terms of compliance requirements, the rules under the said legislation should provide that any licensed immigration consultancy/ travel agency or operator, should file a mandatory quarterly return on the number of applications handled by any such agency or operator with the steering committee constituted under the rules or with the Deputy Commissioner of the respective district, which shall be a pre-condition for the renewal of the annual licence.
To protect students, the rules should prohibit payment of the handsome commission paid to the local agents and franchisees in India by low level foreign universities from the tuition fees paid by the students in India. Over the years, this has promoted a different type of an industry giving fillip to lot of illegal activities on the side to exploit the student avenue.
Mass awareness is important. The rules should direct Regional Passport Offices (RPOs) in Punjab to adequately publicise this beneficial piece of legislation, in their respective offices. For the convenience of the public, especially rural youth hailing from the far flung areas of Punjab who are victims of cheating by unscrupulous agents and dubious touts, copies of the legislation translated in Punjabi should be made available at the said RPOs.
One needs to look at the entire gamut of human smuggling. The NRI marriages in Punjab are a very serious problem, especially in terms of abandoned brides. Marriage is also used as a very convenient camouflage for human smuggling. Marriage palace operators provide complete packages to facilitate such commercial marriages. The rules under the legislation in question should bring within its ambit abettors and perpetrators of such sham marriages, or victims of marriages of convenience.
As part of corporate social responsibility obligations, business houses in Punjab should be motivated to take suitable initiatives to publicise the evil effects of human trafficking and the dangers involved in patronising fly-by-night travel agents.
The Chief Secretary of Punjab, after constituting a Core Steering and Monitoring Committee, should regularly review the enforcement of the legislation and maintain comprehensive data of complaints and convictions under the said legislation. The Chief Secretary can include in the committee people from different walks of life. This could as well give an opportunity to review the working of the legislation. The core panel could have a dedicated website and email address to create direct access from the public for their viewpoints.
The rules could well stipulate that the Punjab government in close cooperation with the Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of Overseas Indians Affairs should also interact with all the Embassies and Foreign Missions in the consular district of New Delhi to share their international data of habitual immigration offenders, networks and cartels engaged in the business of human trafficking and human smuggling with the MEA and the MOIA so that they can further share and transmit the available data with the Punjab government. This will prevent illegal migration and ensure greater cross-border cooperation with all member states.
The rules could provide for an Immigration Ombudsman at the regional and district level. This soft option could be organised by complainants who do not have the resources to invoke the due process of law. A savings clause regarding the consumer courts’ jurisdiction for deficiency in service and for refund/ compensation should also be there explicitly in the rules so that the offenders cannot possibly attempt to take refuge of the technicalities of law.
We have to wait and see which way the pendulum swings down the road. Hopefully, the letter and spirit of the rules will be at par with the Punjab government’s laudable effort in framing the 2010 legislation.
The writer, a Felix Scholar and associated with Wilton Park, a UK-based think-tank, specialises in areas of immigration and private international law in Chandigarh__._,_.___

Forty-two journalists were killed around the world-C P J

Forty-two journalists were killed around the world this year and Pakistan was the deadliest country of all, a study by the Committee to Protect Journalists said on Wednesday.

Pakistan led the list of fatalities with eight, followed by Iraq with four and three each in Honduras and Mexico, the New York-based CPJ said.

The total number of reporters killed in connection with their profession was much lower than in 2009, when the record figure of 72 worldwide was skewed by a one-off massacre in the Philippines.

In addition to the 42 known to have been killed this year, another 28 journalists died in still unclear circumstances, the CPJ said.

"The killing of 42 journalists in 2010, while a decline over previous years, is still unacceptably high and reflective of the pervasive violence journalists confront around the world," said CPJ executive director Joel Simon.

"From Afghanistan to Mexico, Thailand to Russia, the failure of governments to investigate crimes against the press contributes to a climate of impunity that ultimately fuels further violence."

Most of the 42 deaths were murders, while 40 percent took place in combat and other dangerous circumstances.

"Suicide bombings and crossfire in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Thailand, and Somalia accounted for the unusually high proportion," the CPJ said.
Nearly all the victims were local reporters. Six of them were Internet-based journalists.

"CPJ research shows that about 90 percent of journalist murders go unsolved despite the fact that many victims -- 60 percent in 2010 -- reported receiving threats in the weeks before they were killed," the rights group said in a statement. 

Iftikhar Chaudri 

President

Journalists for International Peace.

We are waiting your views on this sensational report about media and  its present crisis. :Rector Kathuria 

Delhi police has committed another lapse--Madhu Chandra

New Delhi : North East Support Centre & Helpline condemns the gang rape of young girl by three men on Saturday late night at Mangolpuri Industrial area, place where Gurgaon-based BPO employee was gangraped and abandoned on midnight of November 23, 2010. North East Support Centre & Helpline along with other NGOs have appealed Delhi police to deploy night patrolling at unsafe areas within Delhi and they have failed to take the hints.

According to sources reaching to North East Support Centre & Helpline, the incident happened when a 18-year-old girl, along with her 24-year-old neighbour, was on her way to pick up her mother, who works in a factory at Mangolpuri, around 10 p.m. when four persons, including a minor, in a black Hyundai Accent allegedly passed lewd comments at her. It led to a heated exchange between the girl and the men in the car and she hurled a bunch of keys at them damaging the window glass. The men then asked her to compensate for the damage. As the girl continued to protest, the men dragged her inside the car and drove away. The adductors took their turn to rape the girl and latter police arrested the accused from the spot.

Madhu Chandra – Spokesperson of North East Support Centre & Helpline said, “Delhi police has committed another lapse. They accepted to deploy night police patrolling in unsafe areas of Delhi. Mangolpuri is the area where two crimes already took place - including gangrape of Gurgaon-based BPO employee on November 23 midnight and another girl attacked by two men on motorbike next day. Enough indication was given to Delhi police and they failed to take hints from past recent incidents in the area.”

Safety for women in Delhi is grave concerned that government and law enforcing agencies must immediately take preventive and proactive measurements to ensure safety to women particularly at night. The offenders must be punished at most severe punishment as possible.

A concern of safety for women was discussed with Delhi Chief Minister Smt. Sheila Dikshit at meeting held with delegations from North East Support Centre & Helpline along with other NGOs on December 4, 2010 to take up with Resident Welfare Associations of housing societies in Delhi.

In this regard North East Support Centre & Helpline has submitted a memorandum to P R. Sawhney, Mayor of Municipal Council of Delhi to give directives to Resident Welfare Associations to allow BPO cab to enter gates to drop working women at night shift at door steps of their homes, to make easy access to colonies and setup and maintain street lights. Memorandum to MCD Mayor is enclosed below.(Issued on December 13, 2010)

MEMORANDUM TO MAYOR, MCD, DELHI

December 13, 2010 

P. R. Sawhney

Mayor

Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) 

Head Office
Town Hall Municipal Corporation of Delhi

Chandni Chawk
New Delhi -110006

Subject: Request for Issuing Guidelines to Resident Welfare Associations

Sir,

After the gruesome incident of Dhaula Kuan gang rape on midnight of November 23, 2010, the security concern for women who are working in night shift has been debated at different national forums. North East Support Centre & Helpline along with other NGOs has intervened to address this issue with Delhi police on November 26 2010 and Smt. Sheila Dikshit, Chief Minister of Delhi on November 3 2010. Subsequently a larger meeting was held at the residence of Delhi CM on 4 November 2010 with Delhi police, Delhi State Commission for Women and Women and Child Welfare Minister.

One of the issues discussed in the meeting was to seek cooperation from Residence Welfare Associations of various housing societies in Delhi. Therefore, we would like to appeal your good office to kindly take the following concerns with respective Residence Welfare Associations in the interest of providing safety measure for women working at night and returning home late.

1.      Residence Welfare Associations should allow BPO Cabs to enter the gate so that women will be dropped at the door steps of their house.

2.      Residence Welfare Associations must ensure easy access to colonies to make night safer for women.

3.      Residence Welfare Associations should install and maintain street lights.

Sincerely,

  

Ms. Lansinglu Rongmei President

Mr. Madhu Chandra Spokesperson

Dr. Alana Golemei Founder Member

North East Support Centre & Helpline is a joint initiative of various human rights activists, social workers, students, journalists and lawyers seeking to prevent harassment and abuses meted out to North East People and tribal communities of other states. 

For more detail contact : Madhu Chandra – Spokes Person – 09716004939

Amnesty International Welcomes Appointment of U.S. Envoy for Darfur as Human Rights Violations and Violence Escalates

Posted on Tue, Dec 14, 2010 at 2:46 AM

Washington :  Amnesty International USA issued the following comments today from International Advocacy Director Dr. Scott Edwards, in response to the appointment of Ambassador Dane Smith as the senior U.S. diplomat for Darfur: 

“Amnesty International USA welcomes the appointment of Ambassador Smith, which comes as the human rights situation is deteriorating throughout Sudan and violence is escalating in Darfur. While the world looks ahead to the referendum in January on Southern Sudan’s independence–and hopes for a process that is free and fair and not marred by violence--the situation in Darfur is rapidly deteriorating.  According to Amnesty International’s most recent investigation, human rights defenders and journalists in Darfur face arbitrary arrest, harassment, and even torture at the hands of Sudan’s National Security Service.  In addition, the security situation overall is worsening for the people of Darfur, who have suffered for so many years.  It is our hope that the United States government and Ambassador Smith will make it a priority to address the worsening security situation and human rights violations in Darfur and to secure justice for the Sudanese people so that they can live in dignity and without fear.” (Released on Monday, December 13, 2010) 

Christmas Celebrated at College of Nursing CMC

Ludhiana:  Amidst lots of merriment and sound of music, College of Nursing, CMC, Ludhiana celebrated Christmas on 11.12.2010. The programme began with a welcome speech by Principal Prof. (Mrs.) Triza Jiwan, after which, all the dignitaries, guests, teachers and students joined the college choir to sing the congregational hymn.

The opening prayer and the Christmas message was given by Rev. Rogers. The whole gathering was then enlightened with the message from the Director Dr. Abraham G. Thomas. The soulful and pleasant carols by students then filled the air.

Continuing with the Christmas merriment College of Nursing students presented the Christmas Play "Christmas in the Air" which gave a message to all that no matter how much wealth we have, it can not be compared with the love of God shown for mankind by sending his only begotten son for our salvation. And this love has to be reflected in all of us. And then came the most awaited moment i.e. "Arrival of Santa", who had a merry time with the gathering.

At the end all enjoyed the delicious Christmas lunch together as a family in the nicely decorated and illuminated College of Nursing.